September 6, 2008
New Restaurants to Brighten Up Winter
Ten new arrivals on the restaurant scene can brighten up winter.
MANHATTAN
Asiate. You've heard about the view, and you've heard about the building. On the 35th floor of the Mandarin Oriental Hotel in the Time Warner Center, it's hard to think of a new restaurant with buzz like this. The cuisine is French/Japanese fusion, and the prices are high (prix-fixe, $65 and $85). 80 Columbus Circle. 212-805-8881
La Bottega. From the same crowd that brought you The Park, La Bottega in the Maritime Hotel, is at once stylish and relaxed. The staff is cheerful, the crowd is svelte, the surroundings are welcoming - and the prices for main courses like grilled salmon or chicken under a brick, are fair. 88 Ninth Avenue 212-243-8400
Hearth. As welcoming as it sounds, this airy new place centers on an open kitchen that serves up New American cooking with Italian highlights. Look for specialties like osso buco and braised lamb. 403 East 12th Street; 646-602-1300
Saint Ambroeus. If you liked the Upper East Side version, you'll like the Village scion even better. Lunchtimes, there are panini and gelati, dinnertime caters to bigger appetites, with pastas, risotto and plenty of seafood. 259 W. 4th Street; 604-9254
HK. Start with breakfast - eggs Benedict, maybe? For lunch, there are salads and sandwiches, and for dinner, grilled fish if you're Atkinsing, pasta, if you're not. This sleek, smooth-looking place is a welcome addition to a neighborhood that was long-neglected. And on a Saturday afternoon after the Hells Kitchen market, there's finally someplace to go for a drink. 523 Ninth Avenue; 212-947-4208.
Lucy's Mexican Barbecue. It's been a long, cold winter and a little sojourn south of the border isn't out of line. You don't need a plane ticket, though. Just head for ABC Carpet, where you can feast on barbecued meats and fish that carry a hint of the sun, even amid all the snow and slush. 35 East 18th Street; 212-505-2233.
QUEENS
Riverview Restaurant and Lounge. They cover the waterfront, with New American cooking, with reliables like rack of lamb, grilled salmon, filet mignon, and roast organic chicken. There's also a lounge with house cocktails, and the view is great. 2-01 50th Avenue, Long Island City; 718-392-5000.
Pimenton. The fireplace will banish the chill winds of winter, and the Spanish cooking will warm you up in a jiffy. Small plates start at $5 a pop, and are plenty filling, so you won't go broke either. 21-50 44th Drive, Long Island City. 718-707-0442
BROOKLYN
Lobo. Doubtless, this Tex-Mex place will become one of the neighborhood's favorite hangs. There are the three dozen or so tequilas to choose from; there's a weekend brunch; there are well-prepared tacos, fajitas, and enchiladas. And then there are the prices - which are eminently reasonable --and a staff that couldn't be friendlier. 218 Court Street; 718-624-9267
Chestnut. Just when you thought Smith Street was starting to be a little over, along comes Chestnut, with its inventive New American cooking and relaxed atmosphere. Look for dishes like roast duck with curried quince or stuffed pork loin, plus pastas (one of which is vegetarian). 271 Smith Street; 718-243-0049
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